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06-26-2001, 08:58 PM

Something crazy is going on out here. I got my Century flier today advertising excellent condition P-38's for $600 and am reading on other sites tonight that they are sold out already. It also appears likely that at least some of these are renumbered and reblued. Less than a year ago Empire Arms had "absolutely gorgeous" P-38's which were in mint-condition and re-arsenaled and which took them several months to sell for $450--I did not buy one at that time because I could get one in excellent original condition for $350 (alas, I failed to do so). It does not make economic sense to me that the more guns they import the higher the prices go.

The sad truth of the matter is, that even though many folks are calling the $600 price ridiculous, the fair market value of an imported reblued P-38 probably actually is $600 if you can dump a bunch of them on the market and they are snatched up at that price.

I had started about a year ago collecting WW2 pistols, but if this trend cuts across the board, I am going to be out of business real soon. I shudder to think what G.I. 1911's or Broomhandle Mausers will be at if they appreciate at a similar rate.

I also am having trouble with the theory that the outbreak of WW2 movies is driving the market up. Serious gun collectors would already be into WW2 without seeing "Pearl Harbor", and non-collectors are probably not going to get into the hassle, expense, and social approbation of becoming a gun collector merely because they saw a movie.

I just don't know.

06-26-2001, 08:58 PM	#4
Mike T. Guest Posts: n/a	Re: Prices Something crazy is going on out here. I got my Century flier today advertising excellent condition P-38's for $600 and am reading on other sites tonight that they are sold out already. It also appears likely that at least some of these are renumbered and reblued. Less than a year ago Empire Arms had "absolutely gorgeous" P-38's which were in mint-condition and re-arsenaled and which took them several months to sell for $450--I did not buy one at that time because I could get one in excellent original condition for $350 (alas, I failed to do so). It does not make economic sense to me that the more guns they import the higher the prices go. The sad truth of the matter is, that even though many folks are calling the $600 price ridiculous, the fair market value of an imported reblued P-38 probably actually is $600 if you can dump a bunch of them on the market and they are snatched up at that price. I had started about a year ago collecting WW2 pistols, but if this trend cuts across the board, I am going to be out of business real soon. I shudder to think what G.I. 1911's or Broomhandle Mausers will be at if they appreciate at a similar rate. I also am having trouble with the theory that the outbreak of WW2 movies is driving the market up. Serious gun collectors would already be into WW2 without seeing "Pearl Harbor", and non-collectors are probably not going to get into the hassle, expense, and social approbation of becoming a gun collector merely because they saw a movie. I just don't know.